Page 24 of In Love with a Ranger

Oh my gosh, I’m mentally and physically exhausted, she thought painfully as a tear slipped past her lashes. She felt her lip wobble precariously, a sure sign she was about to lose her cool. She was so blasted tired, so frustrated, so on edge, and falling apart.

Releasing the cow’s teats, she hesitated and just sat there, beyond any comprehensive thought, as she was shutting down to only the basics. She’d probably gotten five or six hours of sleep over the last several days since Gideon had arrived. Everything in her was collapsing, including the wall she had mentally, because she never cried, and here she was getting all weepy like some child.

“Christina?”

Nooooo! She mentally howled in alarm, hurriedly wiping her face and hanging her head just so he couldn’t see her – only to see him drop his crutch as he quickly leaned over precariously to look her in the face.

“Are you crying?”

“N-No.”

“Oh my gosh… you are crying. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Everything. I can’t think and…”

“Come here,” Gideon urged, leaning back up to a standing position and tugging her upward to join him – and she couldn’t fight it. No, she would have probably given up a kidney in exchange for a pillow and a nap right now. He pulled her into his arms, tucking her head under his chin, and just hugged her like she was a child, which was frustrating and wonderful at the same time.

“You wanna tell me what is wrong?” he said gently.

“N-Nooo…” she sobbed pathetically.

“Shall I guess?” he chuckled. “Let me see. You are probably just as exhausted as I am and just want a nap.” And she was already nodding off against his chest, letting out a horribly unromantic snore that caused him to let out a small sigh as he shook her gingerly.

“Christina, if I weren’t in a cast, this wouldn’t be a problem – but right now I need you to walk with me to the cabin.”

“I c-can’t…”

“We’re done for the day,” he said firmly, tugging her forward. “Come with me.”

“Where are we going?” she protested faintly but walked along beside him, leaving the bucket of milk and everything else. She was so far gone that she didn’t even care. Gideon had an arm around her and his crutch, managing to make his way slowly beside her as they walked, catching her as she stumbled. As they got to the cabin, he opened the door and pulled down the Murphy bed immediately.

“I’ve got to put away my things… I need that data, and oh phooey,” she sobbed, burying her face in her hands wretchedly, unable to focus.

“Christina, look at me,” Gideon said gently, sitting beside her.

“N-No… my n-nose turns red.”

“It’s fine,” he urged and touched her hands, pulling them from her face. She stared up at him, looking at his blurry face through her tears, and saw his eyes melt. “We’re both exhausted and trying so hard to do the right thing that we’re doing all the wrong things – and that stops now.”

“What does?”

“We’re going to take a heckuva nap…”

“You had me at nap…” she sobbed, feeling utterly wretched. “I’m so tired, my brain isn’t braining. I hate this. Why couldn’t you be a girl or be gay?”

“I’m really glad I’m not,” he laughed easily and bent over to take off her boots. “Now, this is strictly a nap. Clothes stay on, nothing untoward, no funny business, but we are both lying down horizontally for this one, together, under the sheets, like a couple of friends.”

“I don’t even care,” she whimpered, turning and crawling on all fours across the bed before collapsing and whispering, “Take the kidney…”

“What do you mean?” Gideon said gently, putting a hand on her back and shaking her slightly. “You said ‘kidney’ – is something wrong with your kidney?” And made an unintelligible noise, even for her. She felt the bed sag beside her as he lay down, and that was the last thing she remembered.

* * *

Christina wasn’t sure what woke her. She was warm, comfortable, and felt so much better than she had earlier. How was she going to face Gideon after having a breakdown and crying like a…

That single thought stopped her in her tracks.

Gideon.

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